الفهرس 
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Abstract
This study was conducted at El- Mataana Experimental Research Station Hort. Res. Instit., Agric. Res. Centre, Esna district, Luxor governorate during 2016 and 2017 seasons in which 24 tissue culture derived offshoots of 10 yeas old Barhy date palms were selected for achieving this experiment the palms were planted 6x7 meters apart ( 100 palms / fed). The texture of the soil is silty clay. Pruning was performed to maintain leaf bunch ratio at 8: 1. Number of bunches for all the undertaken palms was adjusted to 8 bunches / palm surface irrigation was followed. Pollination was performed by inserting five male strands into the female bunch throughout 2-3 days after female spathe cracking. Pollen grains viability was tested before hand pollination. All bunches were bagged for one month.
This study was conducted to assess the different effects of using plant compost manure as well as effective microorganisms biofertilizer as partial replacement of inorganic N fertilizers on some vegetative growth characteristics, leaf chemical composition, yield, physical and chemical properties in the fruits of Barhy date palm fruits. Nitrate and nitrite content of the fruits in response to application of N at different sources and proportions were investigated.
The selected palms received the same and common agricultural and horticultural practices that already applied in the orchard except those dealing with the application of different sources of N.
This experiment included the following eight treatments from inorganic N (ammonium nitrate, 33.5 % N), plant compost manure (2.5 % N) and effective microorganisms (EM) arranged as follows:
1- Application of the suitable N (1000 g N / palm/ year) as 100% inorganic N ( 2985.0 g ammonium nitrate / palm / year).
2- Application of the suitable N as 75% inorganic N ( 2239 g ammonium nitrate / palm/ year) + 25% plant compost manure (10 kg / palm/ year) .
3- Application of the suitable N as 50% inorganic N ( 1493g ammonium nitrate / palm/ year) + 50 % plant compost manure (20 kg / palm/ year) .
4- Application of the suitable N as 25% inorganic N ( 747 g ammonium nitrate / palm/ year) + 75% plant compost manure (30 kg / palm/ year) .
5- Application of the suitable N as 0.0 % inorganic N + 100 % plant compost manure (40 kg / palm/ year)
6- Application of the suitable N as 75% inorganic N ( 2239g ammonium nitrate / palm/ year) + 25% plant compost manure (10 kg / palm/ year) + 50 ml /palm/ year Effectiev microorganisms (EM) algae biofertilizer.
7- Application of the suitable N as 50% inorganic N ( 1493g ammonium nitrate / palm/ year) + 50 % plant compost manure (20 kg / palm/ year) + 100 ml /palm/ year Effective microorganisms (EM) biofertilizer
8- Application of the suitable N as 25% inorganic N ( 747 g ammonium nitrate / palm/ year) + 75% plant compost manure (30 kg / palm/ year) + 200 ml /palm/ year Effective microorganisms (EM) biofertilizer.
Each treatment was replicated three times, one Barhy date palm per each. Inorganic N source was applied in the source of ammonium nitrate (33.5 % N) . It was splitted into three equal batches and applied at the first week of March, May and July for the two consecutive seasons. Organic N fertilizer namely plant compost manure (2.5% N) was added once at the first week of Jan. during 2016 and 2017 seasons. EM biofertilizer at 50 to 200 ml/ palm/ year was also added once at the first week of March. Ammonium nitrate was distributed around the canopy of each palm while organic and biofertilizer were applied in holes 10 cm depth and 50 cm apart around the canopy of each palm. All the selected palms (24 palm) received N at fixed rate namely 1000 g N/ palm/ year.
This experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Each treatment was replicated three times, one palm per each replicate.
During both seasons, the following measurements were recorded;
1- Some vegetative growth aspects namely area of pinnae (cm2) and leaf (m)2 , number of pinnae / leaf, number of spines/ leaf and spine length (cm)
2- Leaf chemical components namely chlorophylls a, b, total chlorophylls and total carotenoids (mg/ g F.W.) as well as percentages of N, P, K, and Mg (on dry weight basis).
3- Percentages of initial fruit setting and fruit retention , yield / palm(kg) and average bunch weight (kg.)
4- Physical characteristics of fruits namely weight (g.); diameter and height (cm) of fruit, percentages of fruit seed and flesh and flesh / seeds.
5- Chemical characteristics of the fruits namely T.S.S,/%, total , reducing and , non reducing sugars %, titratable acidity %, total crude fibre %, total soluble tannins % and fruit content of nitrate and nitrite (ppm).
The nearly same obtained during both seasons could be summarize under the following main items.
1-Some vegetative growth aspects:
A remarkable stimulation on growth aspects namely area of pinnae and leaf , number of pinane and spines / leaf and spine length was observed with using the suitable N ( 1000 g N/ palm / year via 50 to 75% inorganic N plus 25 to 50% plant compost without or with the use of EM at 50 to 100 ml / palm / year compared using N as 100% inorganic N or plant compost or when inorganic N was used at 25% regardless organic and biofertilization. A clear reduction on these growth aspects was observed when inorganic N was added at 25% regardless organic and biofertilizaiton. The maximum values were recorded when N was applied via 50% inorganic N plus 50% plant compost + 100 ml EM/ palm/ year. However, the lowest values were obtained when N was added as plant compost at 100%.
2- Chemical components of the leaf:
A material and gradual promotion on chlorophylls a , b , total chlorophylls, total carotenoids, N, P, K and Mg was observed with decreasing the percentages of inorganic N from 100 to 0.0 % and at the same increasing percentages of plant compost from 0.0 tom 100% and levels of EM from 50 to 200 ml / palm . The promotion was higher when EM was added at 50 to 200 ml/ palm/ year with inorganic and organic fertilization relative to fertilization with inorganic and organic N alone. Fertilizing palms with N as 25% inorganic +75% plant compost and 200 ml EM/ palm gave the greatest values. The minimum values were recorded on the palms fertilized with N as 100% inorganic N.
3- Percentages of initial fruit setting and fruit retention, yield per palm and average bunch weight
Percentages of initial fruit setting and fruit retention, yield/ palm and average bunch weight were remarkably improved in response to fertilizing Barhy date palms with the suitable N as 50 to 75% inorganic N plus 25 to 50% plant compost with or without the addition of 50 to 100 ml/ EM/ palm/ year compared to using N completely via inorganic N or plant compost or when inorganic N was added at 25% inorganic N regardless the application of organic and biofertilizers. Using EM at 50 to 200 ml/ palm besides inorganic and organic fertilization succeeded in improving these parameters compared with using inorganic and organic fertilization alone. The highest values were recorded on the palms that fertilized with N via 50% inorganic N + 50% plant composed + 100 ml EM/ palm.
4- Physical characteristics of the fruits:
Physical characteristics of the fruits namely weight, diameter and height, percentage of flesh and flesh/ seeds were improved while the percentage of seed weight % was decreased with using the suitable N ( 1000 g N / palm) via 50 to 75% inorganic N plus 25 to 50% plant compost with or without the application of EM at 50 to 200ml / palm compared with using inorganic N or plant compost each at 100% or when inorganic N was added at 25% of N regardless organic or biofertilization. Using EM at 50 to 200 ml / palm / year had an obvious promotion on all parameters except fruit seed weight % that tended to reduce especially when added with inorganic and organic fertilization relative to the use of inorganic and organic fertilization alone. The maximum values were recorded when the palms were fertilized with N as 50% inorganic N + 50% plant compost + 100 ml EM/ palm / year.
5- Chemical characteristics of the fruits
All chemical quality properties were materially improved. This promotion was appeared in terms of increasing T.S.S. % , total, reducing and non- reducing sugars % and decreasing titratable acidity %, total crude fibre %, total soluble tannins and fruit content of nitrate and nitrite when the palms were fertilized with the recommended N via 25 to 75 % , organic N , 25- 100% plant compost and 50 to 200 ml EM/ palm / year compared with using N as 100% inorganic N. This promotion was in proportional to the reduction in the percentage of inorganic N from 10.0 to 0.0% and increasing the percentages of plant compost from 0.0 to 100 % and levels of EM from 0.0 to 200 ml/ palm / year. The best results with regard to chemical quality parameters were obtained due to fertilizing the palms with N as 100% plant compost. However, fertilizing the palms with N as 100% inorganic N gave lower chemical quality fruits.